affordable battery tester

What's the problem with voltage? It's a common and reliable indication of remaining capacity on LA batteries. I would think a battery tester (not a hydrometer) would use voltage.

Percentages/Voltages/Recommendations----all in one chart

dtappy3353 wrote:
I understand percentage better than volts. Is there a battery tester that gives you percentage to help me understand the available charge of my batteries on Fiver.

Do you want to test for diminished total capacity?
Or do you want to monitor the existing charge level?

For diminished capacity you may need a load tester to be used in conjunction with a hydrometer.

If you want a monitor to show a percentage of remaining charge there are many available for about $200+. Victron and Trimetric are two of the popular brands.

http://www.bestconverter.com/TriMetric-Battery-Monitor

http://shop.pkys.com/Victron-Energy-BMV700-Precision-Battery-Monitor

Thanks for the quick responses. Thank you very much for the charts...they are the paper version of what I'm seeking.

Looking for a hand held battery tester which give volts and "state of charge".

I bought one of these;
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-Battery-120V-300A-LCD-Voltage-Current-Watt-Power-capacit-Digital-Combo-Meter/162144298635?hash=item25c08da68b:m:msNz_Ko6X9OlmwwnCn2IGLQ

A little thinking to set up, but man, it will tell you everything you need to know on the state of charge for the battery and it's over all condition.

dtappy3353 wrote:

Looking for a hand held battery tester which give volts and "state of charge".

Don't make this harder than it IS.

Just print out a half dozen copies of that chart in the previous post, buy yourself an inexpensive digital multi-meter or two......and you are done.

dtappy3353 wrote:
Thank you very much for the charts...they are the paper version of what I'm seeking.

Looking for a hand held battery tester which give volts and "state of charge".

Handhelds are for checking things occasionally, when you suspect that something could be wrong. Get a reliable multimeter to measure volts and consult the chart. It will tell the correct charge only after battery had rested 12-24 hours. You need a good multimeter anyway.

Voltage by itself is a very approximate measure of charge, cheap digital voltmeters are often inaccurate, the net result might be no better than OEM lights panel Full/Half/Empty. If it reads both volts and % of charge, then both volts and % will be inaccurate, be it a handheld or permanently installed.

For accurate on-the-go data, install battery monitors like those in Time2roll links. They measure not just volts, but also amper-hours in and out, and calculate the remaining charge.
If money is a problem, here is a cheaper device for the same purpose: Drok AH meter. Reads volts, remaining AH, and % of charge. Drok is more-less known brand. Ebay sell knock-offs that look similar, can't comment on those.

dtappy3353 wrote:
Looking for a hand held battery tester which give volts and "state of charge".

Accurate SoC:

While being discharged at some unknown rate?
While being charged at some unknown rate?

What red31 said.

Voltmeter for SOC is like a broken clock that is right twice a day.
With voltmeter it will be only once a day, - after 12 hours rest.